Koike Reflects on 10 Years as Tokyo Governor, Shares Vision for the Capital's Future

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike marked 10 years in office on August 2. In an exclusive interview with The Sankei Shimbun, she reflected on her decade of leadership and shared her vision for Tokyo's role in shaping Japan's future.

She emphasized the importance of developing future talent through policies that support child-rearing and education, while also highlighting efforts to drive AI-powered transformation and foster globally competitive startups.

Excerpts from the interview follow.

How do you view your 10 years in office?

Since taking office, I have advanced the vision of "Tokyo Great Reform." While continuously updating our policy goals, we have steadily achieved around 90% of the pledges I made during my campaigns.

In recent years, global changes have accelerated, including the rapid rise of AI.

At the same time, energy shortages remain Japan's Achilles' heel. We must create new industries that can lead the next era, and developing the talent needed to support them is one of our greatest challenges.

How are you nurturing future talent?

I have always governed Tokyo with a "children first" approach. People are the source of national strength. The fact that the number of births in Tokyo has begun to increase is a major transformation.

I believe this is the result of continuously implementing policies that reduce the financial burden of raising children while giving people greater confidence in the future.

When I was a member of the Diet, I worked on initiatives such as a parliamentary group supporting marriage and programs to help people find partners, but it was difficult to bring about broader social change.

After becoming governor, I launched the "Supporting People's Hopes and Aspirations" initiative, and the number of marriages has increased significantly for two consecutive years.

On August 8, Reiwa 8 [2026], a date featuring three "8s" [a number considered auspicious in Japan], we will hold an event to support marriage and hope to expand this movement further.

What are your priorities in education?

Measures first introduced in Tokyo, such as making high school tuition effectively free, reducing the burden of school lunch costs, and eliminating childcare fees, have since been adopted across the country.

Recently, we signed an agreement with New York University that includes discussions on establishing a campus in Tokyo.

We are considering creating a new base in the Tama area and hope to move forward with developing talent equipped with an international perspective.

What is your vision for protecting Tokyo and revitalizing the economy?

Generative AI has transformed the world. As we enter a new era of technological change, we need to support "new models" in areas such as human resource development and startups.

In terms of protecting Tokyo, the recent magnitude 7 earthquake in Kumamoto reminded us that a major earthquake directly beneath the capital could occur at any time. Over the past decade, our disaster preparedness measures have significantly reduced projected damage.

Regarding economic revitalization, Tokyo ranked second in last year's Global Power City Index. To show the world that Japan remains a country to look to, I believe we need to develop new models in Tokyo and lead the way.

It has been four years since we launched the startup event SusHi Tech, and it has grown into one of Asia's largest innovation conferences, attracting investors and startups from around the world.

*Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike speaks on the opening day of SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. (©SusHi Tech Tokyo)*

How do you assess the changes of the past decade and your administration's performance?

Ten years ago, only around 7% of men in Tokyo took childcare leave. Today, that figure has risen to 61.2%, and taking childcare leave is gradually becoming the norm. The social ecosystem has changed significantly. We must continue to stay aware of the waves of change and adapt accordingly.

As for evaluating my administration, I would like Tokyo residents to make that judgment themselves. However, surveys show that around 90% of households raising children in Tokyo say that Tokyo provides a favorable environment for raising children. I believe this may indicate that our efforts are resonating with residents.

(Read the interview in Japanese.)

Interview by Masashi Nakamura, The Sankei Shimbun